We once again call on the Israeli leadership to seek a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council and the UN General Assembly, which provide for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, the diplomat said.

East Jerusalem must also remain the capital, and the Tel Aviv government must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, Zakharova reiterated.

Referring to the consequences of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the diplomat recalled that Russia’s position towards this ‘so-called criminal court remains unchanged’.

We have a negative attitude towards this structure itself, and we speak honestly and openly, and this attitude of ours is not connected with a conjunctural position towards Russia, she added.

It is our position of principle, because we understand the principles on which this structure works and who affects it.

The spokeswoman also called it ‘wrong’ and ‘not in accordance with any norms’ that ICC prosecutors consider themselves authorized to ‘do justice to the citizens of all countries, including states that have not ratified the Rome Statute’.

On May 20, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan asked the Pre-Trial Chamber to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant.

The judge argued that the Prosecution gathered evidence pointing to Netanyahu and Galant ‘being responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip since at least October 8, 2023’.

At the same time, he requested arrest warrants for Hamas leaders.

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